US Authorities have announced a $5m reward for any information leading to the arrest of three members of the Kinahan family.
The US Ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin announced the move at an event in City Hall in Dublin this morning.
Ambassador Cronin told reporters that US authorities believe the three men are members of an 'organised crime group that smuggles deadly narcotics, including cocaine, to Europe.
She also said the group is a "threat to the entire licit economy through its role in international money laundering”.
Meanwhile, Gregory Gatjanis from the US Treasury Department said the group was now joining the ranks of international crime gangs like ‘Italy’s Camorra, Mexico’s Los Zetas, Japan’s Yakuza and Russia’s Thieves in Law (Vory v Zakone)’.
The US reward is for 'any information leading to the Financial Disruption of the Kinahan Criminal Organisation or the arrest and/or conviction of Daniel Kinahan, Christy Kinahan Sr and Christy Kinahan Jr'.
@StateDept Reward of up to $5,000,000.00 USD for information leading to the Financial Disruption of the Kinahan Criminal Organisation or the arrest and/or conviction of:
Daniel Kinahan
Christy Kinahan Sr
Christy Kinahan JrSubmit Tips via email to KinahanTCOTips@dea.gov pic.twitter.com/IkyLsqIGDN
— Garda Info (@gardainfo) April 12, 2022
Investigators also issued a European Arrest warrant for 36-year-old Sean McGovern, believed to be Daniel Kinahan’s closest confidant.
The warrant relates to offences of Murder and Directing & Participating in a Criminal Organisation.
An Garda Síochána seek the public's help in establishing the whereabouts of 36 year old Kinahan Crime Group member Sean McGovern.
A European Arrest Warrant has been issued for his arrest relating to offences of Murder and Directing & Participating in a Criminal Organisation. pic.twitter.com/QxricY7AAN
— Garda Info (@gardainfo) April 12, 2022
It comes after the US Department of the Treasury this morning imposed economic sanctions on seven people it said were members of the gang - including Christy Kinahan and his two sons.
The sanctions are being administered by the US Office of Foreign assets Control (OFAC) – which enforces economic and trade sanctions against foreign countries, terrorists and international drug traffickers.
A UK-based alcoholic drinks company and two United Arab Emirates-based businesses - a sports management and advisory company, and a business management consulting firm - have also been sanctioned.
"Today is a landmark day in the fight against organised crime and in particular the Kinahan organised crime gang" - Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
An Garda Síochána & international law enforcement partners are today launching an initiative tackling the apex of the Kinahan gang. pic.twitter.com/3zb72XMHOv
— Garda Info (@gardainfo) April 12, 2022
Speaking at the event this morning, the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said an international ‘co-ordinated plan’ in the fight against the Kinahans had ‘come to fruition’.
He said the reward and sanctions are 'first phase' of a new operation against the Kinahans, warning that the group 'can run but can't hide from justice forever'.
“It is true that some of the apex of the organisation is located in jurisdictions without extradition treaties to this country,” he said.
“To them I say, you can run but you can’t hide from justice forever and from today, you will be running low on money, friends and influence.”
He also urged businesses and sporting promotions who work with key members of the group to consider their relationships.
Daniel Kinahan has been working as an adviser for some of the world’s top boxers in recent years.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris says a international ‘co-ordinated plan’ in the fight against the Kinahans has ‘come to fruition’. pic.twitter.com/INxdaWoARg
— Andrew Lowth (@AndrewLowth1) April 12, 2022
“If you do have these individuals who have been sanctioned or these entities which are being sanctioned, you are involved then in a criminal network.
“I would ask them to look to their own business – the probity of their business and their relationship with their fans and really, I would ask them is this something they want to be involved with in terms of their legitimate business and I would imagine the answer is a resounding no.”
The message was also echoed by the Justice Minister Helen McEntee.
“What I would do is ask people to think about who they are working with, who they are engaging with and to consider exactly what has been said today,” she said.
Gardaí said their operations targeting the ‘Kinahan Organised Crime Group’ since 2015 have seen 79 people convicted for offences including murder, attempted murder, firearm offences, drug trafficking & money laundering.
US Ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin announces a $5million dollar reward for info and assistance to bringing Christy Kinahan Snr, Daniel Kinahan and Christopher Kinahan Jnr to justice following sanctions imposed on the KOCG by the US. pic.twitter.com/MJighqvucR
— Andrew Lowth (@AndrewLowth1) April 12, 2022
Meanwhile, speaking at a separate event this afternoon, the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said a system of rewards for information leading to arrests in Ireland would be worth considering.
“It’s not something we have done in the past that I am aware of but I know it is done in the US and other jurisdictions and, if you think of the cost to the nation of what criminal enterprises do, giving people a reward for information probably make sense,” he said.
“I’ll be honest with you; it is not something I have given deep thought to or consideration to, but I imagine it is probably something Minister McEntee will want to consider.”
He said today's announcement happened "largely because of work done by the Gardaí and cooperation between the Gardaí and the FBI and the US authorities so I think it is positive in that regard".
Hopefully we’ll see it produce results because that particular organisation has escaped justice for far too long and perhaps this is evidence of the net getting tighter.
Daniel Kinahan has been named in the High Court as the leader of the Kinahan organised crime gang, which the court said is involved in international drugs and weapons trafficking.
His father Christopher Kinahan has previously been convicted of drug trafficking.
With reporting from Andrew Lowth at City Hall in Dublin.
